The broadcaster also denies McIntyre was terminated at the direction of Malcolm Turnbull, who was the Communications Minister at the time of the tweets on April 25 this year.

Former SBS reporter Scott McIntyre tweeted contentious views about the Anzac legend for the second Anzac Day in a row.

In a hearing in the Federal Court on Thursday, Arthur Moses SC, for SBS, said McIntyre was not sacked because of the political views he held, but because the tweets were in breach of the broadcaster's social media policy and code of conduct.

McIntyre claims at no stage prior to his sacking did SBS direct him to delete the tweets, apologise, or inform him that he had breached the code of conduct or social media guidelines. He says he was denied procedural fairness and that he was sacked, in part, because of "his expression of political opinion".

The tweets, from his account @mcintinhos​, included: "Wonder if the poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered."

He also tweeted: "Remembering the summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these 'brave' Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan".

McIntyre is suing SBS for unlawful termination under the Fair Work Act and has asked the court to order SBS to pay compensation and damages. He had worked at SBS since 2003 and was employed as a sports reporter from August 2008.

Malcolm TurnbullCredit:Ben Rushton

McIntyre's tweets generated a debate on Twitter and some users, including News Corp columnist Chris Kenny,urged Mr Turnbull to intervene.

McIntyre claims in a series of telephone calls from Mr Shipp beginning at 7.43pm on April 25, he offered to tweet a disclaimer that the tweets were his views alone. He says Mr Shipp told him not to because "it would look as if management had pressured him".

He says Mr Shipp sent an SMS with a proposed apology followed by two more phone calls where he told McIntyre to "consider apologising". He further claims Mr Shipp said he would not be sacked but did say he could be made "redundant".

Prior to 9.07pm Mr Turnbull rang SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid about the tweets. He also tweeted in: "Difficult to think of more offensive or inappropriate comments than those by @mcintinhos".

Scott McIntyre's tweets. Credit:Twitter

The following morning Mr Shipp told McIntyre by phone his employment was terminated for breach of contract.

This was followed by an email that said: "As discussed, because of your actions, your employment with SBS has been terminated effective immediately.

"The decision has been made because you refused by reasonable directions asking you to delete the offensive tweets you posted on Anzac day and refusal to issue an apology which has bought SBS and yourself into disrepute. Refusing a reasonable direction from your manager is a summary dismissable​ offence."

"Additionally, you have breached the SBS Code of Conduct, SBS's Corporate Values and the SBS Social Media Guidelines which has resulted in your role being untenable because the community and our audiences have lost confidence and faith in you as a member of our on-air team."

SBS admits Mr Turnbull and Mr Ebeid had a conversation about the tweets but denied Mr Turnbull directed SBS to "take any action in relation to McIntyre's employment".

McIntyre says he has suffered loss of income, damage to reputation, dislocation to life, humiliation, distress and anxiety.

The parties failed to mediate the dispute at a confidential Fair Work Commission hearing in July. A three day trial will take place in April.